The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-09-10
STREETS AND PARKS.

from the system in other cities, our
streets and blocks become the subj OF
much comment among residents and
traDsieuts. And we find varying
opinioDs as to the excellence Of the ar
rangement.
To those of a speculative disposition,
it appears wasteful that so much land
should be devoted TO the streets ana
cooped up in the centre OF our ten acre
blocks. They are inclined to view real
estate more in relation 10 the wealth. OF
the Individual than to tn welfare OF the
community to eZaggerate the value LOT
purposes of building sites foI ware
house, store and tenement, and TO f7r
get the larger considerations OF punhc
convenience and nealth.
There are far more important con
siderations in the laying out OF our
cities than the possibility ot j&mmng
and orowding stores and res
dences into the closest possible
space. In fact, the great clrles
of the east, are necessarily mourning
over the short-sightedness OF ancestors
who thought a COW path was vice
enough for a street, and were unmlnu-
full OF the necessity of public breathing
places. AS for the width OF our streets
the day will soon come when all must
recognize, as the far-seeing class Oh
citizens now do, that our wide streets
will be among the chief beauties OF the
city.
The suggestion to narrow the streets
should not be tolerated for moment
What do a few steps farther from ONCE
to office, or a few more square feet oil
ground upon which to erect tenement,
weigh when placed in the
balance against the great boonS
of sunlight, air and plenty
of space for pedestrian and vehicle
Whatever may be done with the blocks,
the streets, If mutilated, will remain a
constant menace to those ills which
arise from over crowding. You cannot
quite rob the city Of health and air and
sunlight, if you leave the streets IN
touched. Nor are these more impor-
tant considerations affected by the cost
of caring for the streets.
Tbs proposition to divide the block IN
one or two directions is worthy immedi-
ate attention. Every moment delay viii
increased the cost of doing It. Thai
something must be done with the cen
tres Of our blocks is manifest. Our own
preferences would be TO leave them as
air spaces, as the city's lungs, il it were
certain that they would not become Je
ceptacles for garbage and refuse, and
therefore breeders of disease; or Ii 1t
were certain that they would not be
come net works OF dark and unhealthy
ALLEYS, the enforced homes of poverty.
Proper sanitary rules vigorously en-
forced would remove the former ubjec-
ton. and wise ordinances the latter.
The cost and impracticaDility Of split
ting the blocks viii increase hourly.
Whatever IS to be done should, therefore,
be dole quickly. Whether the city
should do ii, or the city in connection
with the property owners affected, or
bv the latter alone. is a problem. The
City Council should appoint commit
tee to inquire into the matter, to care
fully ascertain what shouIc be done,
and who should do it.
Looking to the city's future when a
more dense population viii require what
is not now needed, special breathing
places il the shape oi public parks, 1t
is seen that some provision has been
made. There Is Washington Square,
the Tenth Ward square, the Old Fort
block. and Liberty Park and the mouth
OF City Greek Canyon. which may he
converted into q beautiful and converi !
ent park, with Macadamzed or other
substantial drives passing through il
and several miles up the canyon.
Liberty Park, being small, might vel
be stnsibly enlarged, and q bonded
debt incurred Ior the purpose, whIc5
the next generation SHOULD pay since
it will be to them that The adyantag,
wild accrue.
And IN the meantime, the city nigh
wisely pick up Jew moe blocks; one
. for instance. in the Twentieth Ward
one toward the east bench, and one il
the Nineteenth Ward; they would COS
con a lively little now bur would b